While Clint Dempsey and Brian McBride are often named first, Landon Donovan is the USMNT’s top World Cup scorer with five goals across 2002, 2006 and 2010—goals that included the late winner vs. Algeria in 2010 and kept unforgettable American nights alive.
There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over a match when you realize the moment has already been decided. In 2010, it didn’t happen all at once for the United States—it arrived late, in stoppage time, when Landon Donovan’s winner against Algeria landed like a jolt.
That goal still lives in highlight reels and family memories. It also sits at the center of a USMNT fact that keeps getting repeated by fans who know their own history: Donovan is the team’s highest World Cup goalscorer.
The honor belongs to Landon Donovan, who scored five times across the 2002, 2006 and 2010 tournaments, though his goals came in two of those three World Cups.
Donovan’s World Cup story began in 2002. The United States made its famous run to the quarterfinals. and Donovan broke through in two separate phases of that campaign. He scored late in the 3-1 defeat to Poland in the final group stage match—but even with that loss. the U.S. advanced after a win over Portugal and a draw with hosts South Korea. Donovan then scored again in the round of 16 against Mexico, turning it into a 2-0 win. Germany ended that run.
His other three World Cup goals came in 2010. One moment stands above the rest: the unforgettable stoppage-time winner against Algeria to close out the group. That goal didn’t just send the U.S. into the knockout stage; the team finished top of the group that included England. After that, it sparked emotional fireworks across every corner of American life—every living room, bar and office.
The U.S. would then go out to Ghana, even after Donovan’s leveller took the game to extra time.
The comparison explains why Donovan is still the name on top. Clint Dempsey has four World Cup goals—scoring in 2006, 2010 and 2014. Bert Patenaude also finished with four, all from the 1930 tournament, including the first hat trick in World Cup history. Brian McBride sits next with three goals—one in 1998 and two in 2002.
And even the current star has only one World Cup goal to his name so far. Christian Pulisic. the team’s current captain and USMNT star. has found the back of the net once on the World Cup. His lone tournament goal came during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. when he scored the decisive winner against Iran in a crucial Group B showdown.
So Donovan remains the scoring king, with five goals. The question for the coming weeks is what happens next for the current crop of forwards—especially Pulisic—who will be watching for the kind of openings that send the ball skimming into the net. forcing goalkeepers to reach a split second too late.
The US is set to face Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye in Group D.
USMNT Landon Donovan World Cup goals Christian Pulisic Clint Dempsey Brian McBride Bert Patenaude Group D Paraguay Australia Türkiye